Netanyahu in soup over corruption scandal

Israeli police say PM must be indicted for bribery, fraud and breach of public trust

Israeli police have recommended that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be indicted for bribery, fraud and breach of public trust in two corruption investigations.

Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing. One of the allegations is the so-called ‘Case 1000’ investigation. It centres on Netanyahu and his family being suspected of receiving gifts between 2007 and 2016 to be worth one million shekels (Dh1.03 million).

According to police, Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan was responsible for some 750,000 shekels in gifts, while Australian billionaire James Packer provided the other 250,000 shekels’ worth. The gifts included pricey cigars, champagne and jewellery. Netanyahu is suspected to have in return sought to help Milchan receive tax benefits that some reports said could have been worth millions of dollars.

Head of a centrist Israeli party Yair Lapid called on Netanyahu to resign and defended his decision to cooperate with police.

Israeli police have recommended that Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been prime minister for nine straight years, be indicted on bribery and breach of trust charges in two corruption cases, a development that deals an embarrassing blow to the embattled politician and is likely to fuel calls for him to resign.

Following the announcement late on Tuesday, Netanyahu angrily rejected the accusations, which included accepting nearly $300,000 (Dh1.1 million) in gifts from two billionaires.

He accused police of being on a witch hunt and vowed to remain in office and even seek re-election. “I am sure that the truth will come to light. And I am sure that also in the next election that will take place on time I will win your trust again, with God’s help,” an ashen-faced Netanyahu said in a televised address.

The recommendations marked a dramatic ending to a more than yearlong investigation into allegations that Netanyahu accepted gifts from Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer, and suspicions that he offered to give preferential treatment to a newspaper publisher in exchange for favourable coverage.

The recommendations now go to attorney general Avihai Mendelblit, who will review the material before deciding whether to file charges.

Netanyahu can remain in office during that process, which is expected to drag on for months.

During similar circumstances a decade ago, Netanyahu, as opposition leader, urged thenprime minister Ehud Olmert to resign during a police investigation, saying a leader “sunk up to his neck in interrogations” could not govern properly.

In the immediate aftermath of the police announcement, reactions quickly fell along partisan lines. Former prime minister Ehud Barak, a bitter rival of Netanyahu, called on him to suspend himself and for the coalition to appoint a replacement.

“The depth of corruption is horrifying,” Barak said. “This does not look like nothing. This looks like bribery.”

But key members of Netanyahu’s Likud Party rallied behind him.

Shrill defence

Cabinet minister Miri Regev said she was “not excited” by the police recommendations and urged patience while the attorney general reviews the case. She said the biggest surprise was that Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition Yesh Atid party, had been a witness.

David Amsalem, another Netanyahu confidante, called Lapid a “snitch.”

Lapid later issued a statement calling on Netanyahu to resign. “Someone with such serious accusations against them, many of which he does not even deny, cannot continue to serve as prime minister,” he said.

The police statement said their investigation found sufficient evidence to indict Netanyahu in the first case, known as ‘File 1000,’ for accepting bribes, fraud and breach of trust. It said he had accepted gifts valued at 750,000 shekels ($214,000) from Milchan, and 250,000 shekels ($71,000) from Packer.

Police said Netanyahu helped Milchan in the Israeli media market among other favours.

In the second case, known as ‘File 2000,’ Netanyahu reportedly was recorded asking Arnon Mozes, the publisher of the

Yediot Ahronot daily, for positive coverage in exchange for promoting legislation that would weaken a free newspaper that had cut into Yediot’s business.

Police said there was sufficient evidence to charge both Milchan and Mozes with bribery.

Someone with such serious accusations against them, many of which he does not even deny, cannot continue to serve as prime minister.” Yair Lapid | Opposition leader